The NC National Organization For Women conference theme this year is “Demand Justice for Women NOW!” Come hear Rep. Pricey Harrison, our excellent and exciting keynote speaker. Rep. Harrison has proven commitment to women and the environment. She has long experience in the NC General Assembly, as well as law and activist background. Her knowledge and interest go perfectly with our conference theme of exploring what changes the state made and how to get justice for women.

Rep. Pricey Harrison
Representing the 57th district in the NC House of Representatives since 2005

Attendees will enjoy the opportunity to connect with other women and men from chapter across the state. The day will include presentations on the ERA (which we need more and more in the face of laws that target women) and Immigration, given by chapter leaders and activist. The panel includes experts who will discuss issues surrounding legislative developments impacting Health Care, Seniors, Economic Security and Education.

Please join other feminists at our annual NC NOW state conference at the Chapel Hill Friends Meeting Building at 531 Raleigh Road in Chapel Hill, NC.

Photo: NC NOW members at the State Capitol in Raleigh
before the Moral Monday on 6/24/13

People interested in joining a NOW Chapter or learning about NOW are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be provided at registration. Enjoy lunch with an inspiring keynote speaker. Stay with us and join our ACTION on immigration immediately following the conference!

Have you been following the NC Voucher saga? Here is a late summer update. It has been going well – thanks to good rulings and a timely computer glitch. And then we run into the state legislature interfering with the courts. You won’t believe it. Read on..

On Aug 21, 2014, Superior Court Judge overturned the new voucher law that would have funneled $10 million to private schools in 2014/2015 alone

Judge Robert Hobgood ruled that the Opportunity Scholarship (voucher) program is unconstitutional. He ruled that using public taxpayer money for private schools is unconstitutional. The legal challenges had been filed by the North Carolina Association of Educators, the North Carolina School Boards Association and dozens of local school boards. (More at www.wral.com/judge-rules-nc-school-voucher-program-unconstitutional/13911842/)
But the story is more tricky and involved than that.

A video that was released showing NFL player Ray Rice knocking his then fiancee, Janay Palmer, out cold in a hotel elevator and then dragging her unconscious body out generated new discussion and new action. But the problem is, why did it take a video to make people believe what Rice did?

Some NFL players who rarely criticize each other publicly on these matters communicated were commenting on Monday, 9/8/14. Find comments from other professional athletes and others at

Thanks to conservative Wake County Commissioner Paul Coble for reminding us of how they had the NC Legislature interfere with the Wake County School Board. So many bad laws were passed in 2013, I had forgotten about this one – and it’s huge for the future of public education in Wake County, our children, our teachers, and our magnet system.

The conservatives did a legislative overhaul of how and when votes are cast in North Carolina’s largest school system by creating new election districts for the Wake County school board in Senate Bill 325. They redefined two board seats to become regional positions, and completely gerrymandered the districts of the remaining seven seats to favor Republicans. They changed when school board elections are held. They cuts some terms short and makes some go longer so that all nine board seats will be on the 2016 ballot, which could result in a complete turnover of the board. And more.

The League of Women Voters of Wake County (LWV-WC) has sponsored candidate forums annually for at least 15 years. I always try to attend at least one myself – it really helps to see candidates in action. These forums are always beautifully run – professional and non-partisan. I was shocked and offended to read that the 4 conservative candidates for County Commissioner had snubbed the League (LWV), as well as blocked a referendum on a small tax toward higher teacher pay in Wake County.